"Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues"
Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
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URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=224
Printed Date: 25 April 2025 at 3:19am
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Topic: "Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues"
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Subject: "Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues"
Date Posted: 12 May 2005 at 10:51pm
| Can anyone confirm if the commercial 45 of Danny O'Keefe's "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" is a different mix than the LP version? Edtop40 claims the 45 mix has a much more prominent bass guitar line and the instruments are panned differently than on the LP version. |
Replies:
Posted By: Paul Esch
Date Posted: 17 August 2005 at 3:25pm
|
Todd--again, excuse me for just now replying to your inquiry, but I
just got through comparing my original 45 of "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" (Signpost 70006) to the CD versions I have from Classics (Rhino Handmade 7862) and from Rhino's Have A Nice Day series, and there are differences. The 45 and Have-A-Nice-Day versions have added percussion (bongos, I think) and a harmonica part. The 45 is in mono, and the CD is stereo. The Classics version has a different, wider mix, and no bongos or harmonica. I don't think the bass is that much more prominent on the 45, but the Have-A-Nice-Day stereo mix definitely has a bit louder bass. I don't have a vinyl LP to compare, though. |
Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 18 August 2005 at 3:23pm
|
I've a version on a Reader's Digest compilation that runs about 2:40 that appears to be a different recording from the 45 version. It contains a flute instead of a harmonica. Might that be the version from the 1972 "O'Keefe" LP? The little snippet that I can play from iTunes from the "O'Keefe" album also has a flute and is indicated as running 2:43. ------------- dc1 |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 19 August 2005 at 8:12pm
| Thanks, Paul and David, for weighing in on this. It sure sounds like there's a difference between the 45 and LP versions of "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues". Just curious, does anyone know if all copies of the 45 were in mono? |
Posted By: BillyDee203
Date Posted: 13 June 2006 at 8:49am
|
While I personally don't own the 45, the version on the Reader's Digest comp
that davidclark references above is the promo version. One of the jocks I know had a copy of it so he wwas able to confirm the time. |
Posted By: AndrewChouffi
Date Posted: 13 June 2006 at 9:22am
|
The 45 is the same "take" as the LP version, albeit thoroughly remixed with additional production & editing.
The 45 has added congas and edited in 3-times title phrase at the end before the coda to strengthen the hook of the song to make it more palatable for top-40 radio at the time. The coomercial single was mono; the 'Have A Nice Day' version is the single in stereo (I suspect from the stereo/mono promo version). The 'Reader's Digest' version is an alternate take; I don't know when it was recorded or when it originally surfaced. Andy |
Posted By: BillyDee203
Date Posted: 13 June 2006 at 1:40pm
|
There's no way for me to be sure until he gets me a dub, but the time on his
promo single is 2:40. I'll be able to time it once he gets it to me. It will be interesting to note any differences between it and the single release. It wouldn't be the first time an oddball version ended up on a Rhino cd. I remember getting stumped by the dj edit of Westbound #9 on the Soul Hits of the 70's series. |
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 13 June 2006 at 4:40pm
|
Todd Ireland wrote:Posted By: Gary Mack
Date Posted: 13 June 2006 at 6:15pm
|
My stereo/mono promo copy runs exactly 2:38 and it has the harmonica instead of the flute.
The dead wax reads ST-SP-25343-1. GM |
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 13 June 2006 at 7:44pm
| Gary: That is the deadwax for my (2:38) promo as well. My (3:02) promo 45 stereo side actually runs (3:00); deadwax is ST-SP-24949-1. Seems that the entire "ease the pain" verse near the end was chopped off. No flute found here, either. |
Posted By: bwolfe
Date Posted: 17 November 2009 at 9:08am
|
This past weekend on American Top 40 this one was number twelve on the charts. It also had a different lyric at the beginning. Instead of "said their moving to L.A." it said "looks like the moving out to stay" or something like that.
Is that an LP version or just a different version. I don't have access to the original Signpost 45 at the moment. I'm throwing out the lifeline again. ------------- the way it was heard on the radio |
Posted By: bwolfe
Date Posted: 17 November 2009 at 9:08am
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I meant "looks like their moving out to stay".
A slip of the fingers.... ------------- the way it was heard on the radio |
Posted By: Bill Cahill
Date Posted: 19 November 2009 at 5:00am
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My mono stock 45 and 2:38 mono/stereo DJ copy both contain "LA". The mono mix is subtly different than the stereo side of the DJ. The mono side of the DJ sounds brighter with slightly louder harmonica and whistling. Which matches the sound of the 3:02 version except the pills line was removed.
As far as the AT 40 70's broadcast, those vary from week to week. Some weeks contain the audio exactly as it was broadcast the first time. Others have been "improved" by editing in CD versions of songs that might have been scratchy, off center, or if the master was damaged. Some shows have been restored from vinyl as there is no tape master in existence. The XM shows may also be different than the over the air broadcasts, I will find out. The 80's countdowns are already off Sirius XM 80's on 8, The Rick Dees 80's countdowns have been removed too, and my bet is that the Casey 70's shows will be gone sooner or later. Apparently the Sirius folks like to create their own content instead of recycling old shows. Or they don't like paying for outside content. I don't know for sure. All I know is that Casey 80's and Rick Dees are already gone. |
Posted By: bwolfe
Date Posted: 19 November 2009 at 8:10am
|
That would be a shame if the AT40 shows from the 70's were dropped. I understand its quite a niche show, but isn't the channel a niche channel? Since the show was dropped on the 80's their back to their old Nina Blackwood and company show. It always sounds like their phoning it in. No enthusiasm, like the show is a real bother for them to voice track.
You mentioned editing, this past weeks 1972 show skipped over a track called "Don't Do It" from the Band. Could've been a tape glitch from the past. Radio is reluctant to have outside programming these days too. I was hoping that Sirius would keep some outside programming. I'll keep my fingers crossed, but I won't hold my breath. ------------- the way it was heard on the radio |
Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 15 February 2020 at 6:33pm
|
I believe the Reader's Digest version I mentioned is actually the version found
on his Cotillion Records 1970 LP "O'Keefe". So, not an alternate take. ------------- dc1 |
Posted By: thecdguy
Date Posted: 16 February 2020 at 6:01am
|
I just checked Discogs. The 1970 LP is titled "Danny O'Keefe" and contains the 2:40 version with the flute that davidclark mentioned and is a totally different vocal. The 1972 LP is titled simply "O'Keefe" and contains the 3 minute version that contains the line, "I believe this time they're gonna stay" (Or maybe "Gone to stay", not sure). That was the line that was eventually replaced with "Said they're moving to LA" on the 45. Here is a YouTube video of the 1972 LP Version of the song being played straight from the LP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixV1euken2s The 1970 LP Version is also on a compilation I have called "Mellow Seventies" on the JCI label (JCD-3304). |
Posted By: Santi Paradoa
Date Posted: 16 February 2020 at 6:53am
|
So are there three different versions total or four? Which version is on the promo DJ 45 that runs (2:38)? Is that version the one that is currently listed as a re-recording in the online database but some of us have called an alternate? ------------- Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida |
Posted By: thecdguy
Date Posted: 16 February 2020 at 7:12am
| From the way others have described it, it sounds like the promo 45 may be an edit of the commercial 45 version, with the running time coincidentally being very close to the 1970 LP Version. |
Posted By: Santi Paradoa
Date Posted: 16 February 2020 at 7:55am
|
Ok. So would this be the four different versions?
1. The original LP version (on the Cotillion label) that was not the hit with the flute instead of the harmonica. 2. The second recorded version on the 1972 LP version (on the Signpost label). The opening line is "Everybody's gone away, I believe this time they're gonna stay." 3. The hit single version with the added percussion and harmonica not on the above LP version. The opening line is "Everybody's gone away, said they're moving to L.A." 4. The promo 45 edit that cuts out the verse that includes the line "pills to ease the pain." ------------- Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida |
Posted By: thecdguy
Date Posted: 16 February 2020 at 8:10am
| That sounds about right. For #2, I would make a notation of , "Includes the line, "I believe this time they're gonna stay"." |
Posted By: Santi Paradoa
Date Posted: 16 February 2020 at 8:43am
------------- Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida |
Posted By: Pat Downey
Date Posted: 17 February 2020 at 10:07am
| There is a 5th version which is the 45 version remixed that appears on several cd's such as Billboard's Top Soft Rock Hits - 1972 (Rhino 72738). |
Posted By: garye
Date Posted: 18 February 2020 at 8:38pm
|
I just found a download on this song.
It says LP version but times out at 2:40. So what do I have then? |
Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 18 February 2020 at 9:28pm
|
garye,
You likely have the 1970 "Danny OKeefe" LP version. Just to add another layer of intrigue (but not confusion) to this one, the song was first recorded by O'Keefe c. 1967, but not released. That version was first issued on 1977 LP "The Seattle Tapes". And good ole YouTube has a rip of that LP, so you can hear that version too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Laz_WDNSLok Finally, it was first issued by The Bards as "Goodtime Charlies Got The Blues" and released in 1969 as the b-side to "Tunesmith" on Jerden 907 (January) then on Parrot 337 (March). ------------- dc1 |
Posted By: garye
Date Posted: 19 February 2020 at 9:44am
|
Gotcha,David. Sometimes you almost need a scorecard to
keep up with some the songs with different versions around! |
Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 19 February 2020 at 10:08pm
|
I'll try and summarize:
Non-hit version from 1970 Danny O'Keefe LP on Cotillion Records This version has a flute instead of a harmonica. Runs 2:38. According to the database, it's found on four CDs, none of which I own:
Non-hit version from 1972 O'Keefe LP on Signpost Records The opening three beats of the song are just a single acoustic guitar. The line from 0:18 to 0:22 is "I believe this time they're gonna stay." Runs 2:58. I have this version on just one CD: Sound Exchange/Warner Special Products 2-CD Seventies Feelings (1995) Hit version from 1972 45 on Signpost Records The opening three beats of the song include the acoustic guitar, but with additional bongos, a soft hi-hat in the left channel, and a harmonica. The line from 0:18 to 0:22 is "Said they're moving to L.A." Runs 2:58. My oldest CD with this version is Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991), where it sounds a little muddy, and has its left and right channels reversed. (All tracks on this disc have their left and right channels reversed.) There are digitally identical clones on:
Based on the commercial (hit) 45 version, but cuts out the verse that includes the line "pills to ease the pain." Runs about 2:38. I don't have editing instructions. Not available on CD. Based on all of the above info, I think the database may need to be updated. ------------- There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one http://www.crapfromthepast.com" rel="nofollow - Crap From The Past . |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 20 February 2020 at 12:35am
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Ron, the section from 1:50 to 2:12 is removed from the hit
commercial 45 to create the radio version. ------------- John Gallagher Erie, PA https://www.johngallagher.com" rel="nofollow - John Gallagher Wedding & Special Event Entertainment / Snapblast Photo Booth |
Posted By: AdvprosD
Date Posted: 02 March 2022 at 9:44pm
From what I'm picking up here, your Readers Digest version is the same as the JCI Mellow Seventies, and was taken from the 1970 LP version. It's interesting because I picked up a handful of these JCI discs in an ebay lot the other day. I was sure surprised to hear the changes in the song I'm so familiar with. I think this disc may be the first time I've heard it arranged this way. I just assumed it was a later take, only to read here that it was actually an earlier one. It sure seems peculiar that I missed this one. I only had 52 +/- years to figure it out. ------------- <Dave> Someone please tell I-Heart Radio that St. Louis is not known as The Loo! |
Posted By: KentT
Date Posted: 03 March 2022 at 8:28pm
Sounds like you have the Cotillion version from 1970, pre hit single on Signpost. Corrected to reflect facts. ------------- I turn up the good and turn down the bad! |
Posted By: Hykker
Date Posted: 04 March 2022 at 7:03am
Only some promos were this way, maybe a reservice after some stations complained about the line? My promo is mono/stereo of the 3:02 version, and I'm 99% sure that's what we played where I worked in the autumn of '72. |